The second annual After Dark Film Festival wraps up today after delighting Toronto audiences with its strong line up of horror and sci-fi flicks. Running out of the Bloor Cinema and U of T’s Innis Town, hall After Dark featured 50 feature and short films and even incorporated a full-out zombie walk into the festivities. Here are The Varsity’s highlights from After Dark.

Audience of One (Dir. Mike Jacobs)

Ten years after he sees his first movie, The Lion King, at the age of 40, San Francisco Pentecostal pastor Richard Gazowsky receives a message from God to become a filmmaker. He then begins work on his first feature, Gravity: The Shadow of Joseph, a biblical sci-fi epic. This film—like a Christian Lost in La Mancha—is the cataclysmic outcome of this project, which was supposed to be something like Jesus Camp meets Star Wars. A series of disastrous events, and no backup plan, has the pious crew putting more and more of their faith in God to “provide a solution.” Although at times it seems only the documentary’s music is what’s leading you to believe you’re witnessing failure, a quick one-liner shot of Gazowsky at work will immediately clarify any doubts of impending disaster. One can’t help but feel sorry for laughing at Gazowsky’s deep and utter naïveté, hoping for a quick and painless end to his delusions of grandeur. However, Gazowsky’s outrageous proposals for the future of his church leave you no choice but to affirm his insanity.—ANDREW NELSON

Rating: VVVV

Aachi & Ssipak (dir. Jo Beom-Jin)

Action-packed is an understatement. In the not-too-distant future, fecal matter is the fossil fuel of choice. Rewarding citizens with an addictive treat for every “contribution” to the energy shortage results in an underground trade of these goodies, in turn leading to all-out gang warfare. The absolutely ridiculous intensity of this fast-paced animated feature leaves you little time to consider how the “good guys” are going to “get out of this one.” Although the action scenes dominate the ninety minutes, an outrageous but logical plot follows close behind, sporting a filthy sense of humour. Holding nothing back when it comes to toilet talk and gore, Aachi & Ssipak is an animated Tarantino- style gangster flick driven by Matrix-esque action scenes, and is entertaining to say the least.—AN Rating: VVVVV

Glitch (dir. Peter Ricq)

Screened prior to Aachi & Ssipak, Glitch is a well-directed and captivating animated short, just long and quiet enough to convey a haunting perspective of reality. A random glitch in a virtual world leaves the protagonist in an unbelievable, mainly mechanical reality in which penguin-like blobs threaten his existence.—AN

Rating: VVVVV

Blood Car (Dir Alex Orr)

Imagine this near future: gas prices are ridiculously high and no one, not even the rich, can afford to drive. Enter Archie, a vegan kindergarten teacher desperate to find an alternative fuel to impress the slutty girl at the meat booth in town. An accident leads Archie to discover that blood, especially human blood, springs his car to life. Thus launches a dark, humourous, and disgustingly gory storyline. The comedic timing is spot on, and the acting captures the mood perfectly. However, the plot lags a bit and the ending, though funny, lacks direction. Blood Car aims to comment on society’s over-reliance on fossil fuels, and our increasing laziness through a good old-fashioned blood bath. This flick is worthwhile see for horror fans who like their guts served with a side of humour and political criticism.—Erin DeCoste

Rating: VVVv

Terror on 3918 (dir. Mathieu Fontaine)

Screened prior to Audience of One, this creative little short demonstrates a talented filmmaker’s ability to create a story of intergalactic proportions with a budget smaller than a student’s bank account. So inventive and well put-together, one can’t help but think of kids at play in adult bodies.—AN

Rating: VVVVV